My Weekend in San Diego

Considered one of the safest large US cities, San Diego also enjoys mild, sunny and dry weather.

It was on a Friday in May several years ago when I had the pleasure of traveling to San Diego for a weekend business meeting. San Diego is a premier travel destination due to its near-perfect year-round weather, 70 miles of stunning coastline (including La Jolla and Coronado), and world-class attractions like the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park. The city boasts a unique blend of laid-back beach lifestyle, rich Mexican-influenced history, a thriving craft beer scene, and vibrant neighborhoods, making it ideal for both relaxation and adventure. San Diego also offers an exceptionally high quality of life, often ranked among the happiest and safest major American cities, driven by its pleasant climate, beautiful beaches, and dynamic culture.

The United Club near Gate D8 at Dulles Airport is not among its nicest, but did have a great staff.

My journey to California started out mid-morning at Pennsylvania’s Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) on a United Express Embraer 145 with a later connection at Washington Dulles Airport (IAD). The United Embraer 145 is a smaller, one-class, regional aircraft seating only 50 persons. It had three Economy Plus seats up front by the bulkhead and three by the Exit in Row 18. I had selected Seat 1A, the single seat by the window for privacy and to ensure a quick departure after this short 59-minute flight. We parked at Gate A5 and my connection to San Diego was leaving from Gate D19. I chose to take the free Aero Train to the C gates station and then walk to the closest United Club at the Midfield Terminal near Gate D8. This club was nothing to write home about. In fact, it was dated, rather dirty and very small making it overcrowded and uncomfortable. The low ceilings are reminiscent of the old LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and create a “cafeteria-like” feel. Perhaps aware of its limitations, the staff went out of their way to be friendly and responsive, which was certainly a plus.

Despite its unappealing presentation, United's Vegetarian Chili Polenta Cake was tasty and filling.

Boarding began some 45 minutes prior to my 12:40 afternoon departure. We were flying aboard a Boeing 737-900 aircraft with 20 seats in the forward cabin in a 2 x 2 configuration spread across five rows. After a warm greeting at the boarding door, I settled into Seat 2B, my favorite on the port side of the aircraft. The First Class seats offered 37″ of pitch, 20″ of width, and had 5″ of recline, which is basically the industry standard, so there’s not much difference between the “big three” US legacy carriers on that front. Our flight attendant offered a pre-departure beverage choice between water or sparkling wine and before long, we took off and were winging our way westward. The cabin crew next started the lunch service with drinks accompanied by warmed mixed nuts. There were seven pre-order menu choices and I selected the Vegetarian Chili Polenta Cake with Tomatoes, Kidney Beans, Bell Peppers, Onion Chipotle Peppers and Soy Crumble. It was served with a small Salad, a Bread Roll and was followed by a container of Frozen Banana Pudding whipped with Wafer Cookie Bits. Service on US airlines can be hit or miss, but on this particular flight, we  were blessed with a great flight attendant working the First Class cabin. She constantly checked on passengers, and offered frequent drink refills. Thanks to her proactive efforts, it was a great flight indeed. 

A United B737 appears to "hover" over downtown San Diego on its low approach to Lindberg Field.

After nearly six hours in the air, we touched down about 3:30 at the San Diego International Airport (SAN). Historically known as Lindbergh Field, SAN is the busiest commercial single-runway airport in the United States. It managed over 25.32 million passengers in 2025 using one 9,401-foot strip. Located in the heart of downtown, SAN offers a dramatic, low-altitude approach over the city skyline. The airport is tightly constrained by the downtown skyline, San Diego Bay, and military property, providing pilots and passengers with spectacular views. Rich in aviation history, it opened in 1928 and was named after Charles Lindbergh, whose plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, was built nearby by the Ryan Aeronautical Company in 1927. The airport was developed on reclaimed tidelands, with the 1930s-era United Airlines Hangar still representing early Spanish Revival-style airport architecture. The airport famously offers one of the most challenging, yet scenic, urban airport landings in the nation, with planes appearing to fly just above the downtown buildings. Historically, it was a hub for early aviation, and although the official name changed to San Diego International Airport, its legacy as Lindbergh Field remains central to its identity. 

One of the largest wooden structures in the United States, the resort is a National Historic Landmark.

In less than 20 minutes, I arrived at the Hotel del Coronado, widely considered the “crown jewel” and a premier historic gem of San Diego. My king-bedded room offered a mix of historic charm and modern coastal luxury, with a 65-inch HDTV, a mini-fridge, and a private balcony. The hotel is a legendary, beachfront, Victorian-style property built in 1888, featuring iconic red-and-white architecture. The resort offers diverse, high-end accommodations, including seaside cottages and contemporary accommodations, along with a private beach, numerous high-end and casual dining options, two pools, a spa and a seasonal beachfront ice skating rink. Situated on Coronado Beach, just across the bay from downtown San Diego, the Hotel del Coronado’s guests have included any number of US Presidents and members of royalty. It’s also played host to celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, who filmed Some Like It Hot there in 1958. The hotel was used to depict a 1920s Florida hotel, with scenes showcasing the beach, the exterior and the grounds. For many years, the resort has remained a premier destination for luxury, history and beach-focused vacations in Southern California.

Their unique and graceful movements make the giraffes a focus of any visit to the San Diego Zoo.

In between business meetings, we had occasion to take in a bit of what the city had to offer. With only a few hours to spare on the Saturday, we made a quick tour of the San Diego Zoo. This zoo pioneered cageless, naturalistic exhibits, housing over 3,700 animals across 100 acres in Balboa Park. It’s renowned for top-tier conservation efforts, groundbreaking endangered species breeding programs (including one for giant pandas), and its immersive habitat design. We took the Kangaroo Express Bus, which gave us a 45-minute hop-on, hop-off guided tour of about 75% of the park. Luckily the hotel concierge told us sit on the right-hand side of the upper deck, which maximized our sightings of giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, polar bears, lions, gorillas and hippos. This was a wonderful way for us to see major areas of the 100-acre park in the shortest amount of time. 

Casa Guadalajara has been frequently voted the best Mexican restaurant in Old Town San Diego.

 Not to be missed was Old Town San Diego, the “birthplace” of California. It was the site of the first European settlement in the state in 1769 and preserves the period between 1820 and 1870.  The area functions as a living history museum (which suited me just fine) with 32 historic sites, including a blacksmith shop, schoolhouse and cemetery. Old Town boasted over 100 specialty shops offering Mexican folk art, handmade crafts, jewelry and clothing, It’s also renowned for its authentic Mexican food and featured more than 30 restaurants with large, festive patios. Our group was fortunate to score a table at Casa Guadalajara, famous for its highly decorated atmosphere, famous “Birdbath” Margaritas and live Mariachi music. The Queso Fundido Appetizer of Melted, Stretchy Cheese, Spicy Chorizo Sausage, Poblano Peppers, and Onions was great and the Chipotle Chicken Taquitos, and Fish Tacos were outstanding. It was a fitting way to end our day. 

Sadly, my time in this wonderful city soon drew to a close. I returned home eagerly looking forward to an opportunity for another San Diego visit.

Until next time…safe travels.